There was also no line at all to buy tickets at the Palantine for the Forum and Colosseum, so that's how you can skip that line. The forum is so uncrowded and cooler in the evening, that's the time to go. We forgot that lesson on this last visit and were there in the heat and crowds. Later we went to the Capitoline museums and saw the cool uncrowded forum out the back. Doh!

annhig there is nobody checking you or stopping you from taking that group exit even if you're not in a group.>>

monica, I know that but you can't use it if you've rented an audio guide as you need to go back to the front desk to return it and recover whatever you have left as a deposit [driver's licence for example].

Apparently the group exit to St. Peter's Basilica is sometimes monitored and sometimes not. I've used it twice with no problems, but I've heard of people being turned back because they weren't with a tour group.

If you need to enter St. Peter's Basilica from the square, it's best to go in the late afternoon, when the queue usually evaporates. The Vatican Museums is also usually less crowded in the afternoon, although you may not believe that when you see the hordes.

Wow, even more helpful info, especially that you must return the audio guide and not go into St. Peter's. And I like an audio guide = not worth it though.
Thank you everyone!

>>>MonicaRichards on Aug 11, 14 at 8:18pm
annhig there is nobody checking you or stopping you from taking that group exit even if you're not in a group.<<<

I've seen Vatican employees monitoring it before and checking to see if people exiting were with that group.